Descriptive Statistics
This week, you explore key statistical concepts related to data and problem solving through the completion of the following exercises using SPSS and the information found in your Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research textbook. The focus of this assignment is to become familiar with the SPSS data analysis software and to develop an understanding of how to calculate descriptive statistics and make conclusions based on those calculations. As you formulate your responses, keep in mind that descriptive statistics only allow you to make conclusions and recommendations for the sample at hand¯t for the larger population to which that sample may belong.
To prepare:
- Review the Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research chapters assigned in this weekàLearning Resources. Pay close attention to the examples presented, as they provide information that will be useful when you complete the software exercise this week. You may also wish to review the Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice video resources to familiarize yourself with the software.
- Refer to the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page and follow the directions to calculate descriptive statistics for the data provided using SPSS software. If you run into any difficulties or problems, post them to the Week 4 Discussion 2 area (see attached file)
- Download and save the Polit2SetA.sav (see attached file) data set. You will open the data file in SPSS.
- Compare your data output against the tables presented in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output document (see attached file) This will enable you to become comfortable with defining variables, entering data, and creating tables and graphs.
- Formulate an initial interpretation of the meaning or implication of your calculations.
To complete:
- Complete the Part I, Part II, and Part III steps and Assignment as outlined in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page. (see attached file for week 4 descriptive statistics assignment page)
Due Tomorrow Saturday 09/23/17 by 8pm
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Quantitative research: Data analysis. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.
In this weekàvideo, the presenter describes challenges to collecting and utilizing quantitative data and offers suggestions for assessing and improving data quality. The strategic use of quantitative data by health care organizations is also considered.
Introduction to SPSS/strong>
Used by permission from SPSSVideoTutor.com A division of ConsumerRaters LLC., 1121 S Military Trail, 314, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, USA
Descriptive Statistics/strong>
Used by permission from SPSSVideoTutor.com A division of ConsumerRaters LLC., 1121 S Military Trail, 314, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, USA
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 11 minutes.
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Required Readings
Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., & Sutherland, S. (2017). Burns and Groveàthe practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
- Chapter 21, ntroduction to Statistical Analysis/li>
This chapter discusses the concepts of statistical analysis with regard to hypothesis testing. The chapter also identifies and defines common statistical terminology.
Polit, D. (2010). Statistics and data analysis for nursing research (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
- Chapter 1, ntroduction to Data Analysis in an Evidence-Based Practice Environment/li>
This chapter provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative data in evidence-based practice. The chapter introduces levels of measurement and types of statistical analyses relevant to different types of research studies.
- Chapter 2, ²equency Distributions: Tabulating and Displaying Data/li>
Chapter 2 discusses frequency distributions as well as the different methods of presenting data, especially when data are very extensive. The chapter includes information on the use of bar charts, pie charts, histograms, and frequency polygons.
- Chapter 3, åntral Tendency, Variability, and Relative Standing/li>
This chapter examines the many ways data distribution for a quantitative variable can be described through shape, central tendency, and variability.
Software
IBM SPSS Statistics Standard GradPack (current version). Available in Windows and Macintosh versions. Please refer to the IBM SPSS Software area in the Course Overview section on the left navigation bar for more information on how to install, register, and license this software.
Optional Resources
Bilheimer, L. T., & Klein, R. J. (2010). Data and measurement issues in the analysis of health disparities. Health Services Research, 45(5), 1489u07. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01143.x
Granberg-Rademacker, J. S. (2010). An algorithm for converting ordinal scale measurement data to interval/ratio scale. Educational & Psychological Measurement, 70(1), 74p.
This site provides step-by-step procedures and screenshots for working with SPSS.
Walden University. (n.d.). Descriptive statistics. Retrieved August 1, 2011, from http://streaming.waldenu.edu/hdp/researchtutorials/educ8106_player/educ8106_descriptive_stats.html
